Daghestani Suspects In Assassination Attempts On Trial

16 November 2005 -- Four suspects in two failed assassination attempts against the deputy prime minister of Russia's southern republic of Daghestan went today on trial in the regional capital of Makhachkala.

Deputy Prime Minister Amuchi Amutinov escaped unhurt both assassination attempts, in late 2004 and February 2005. But in the second attempt, three people were killed when a bomb exploded in the town of Kizlyar as Amutinov was passing by in his armoured car.

At today's hearing in the Supreme Court, Amutinov said those who ordered the assassination attempts have not yet been apprehended.

A group of Amutinov supporters gathered outside the courtroom demanding severe punishment for all involved in the assassination attempts. All four defendants in the case are local residents.